Google Unveils 3 Budget Smartphones

Online search giant Google announced the first three smartphones that will be part of Android One, the company’s initiative to bring affordable Android smartphones to developing markets.

The three devices, manufactured by Micromax, Spice and Karbonn, sports a 4.5-inch display with a 1.3GHz quad-core MediaTek processors under the hood.

Each phone has both a front-facing (2MP) and rear-facing (5MP) camera, dual SIM card slots, a replaceable battery and a built-in FM radio. Other specs include 1GB of RAM, WiFi, Bluetooth, 3G, and a 1,700mAh battery.

The phones will run on Android L, Google’s upcoming mobile operating system, and will be eligible for all software updates, including security patches.

The smartphones will first ship in India. The phones will also come to Indonesia, the Philippines, Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka by the end of the year.

Google said it would make Android One available in more countries next year.

Google is also working with smartphone partners like Acer, Asus, HTC and Lenovo, as well as silicon chip makers to use lower-cost components.

Starting price is 6,399 Indian rupees ($105), according to a blog post by Google Android head Sundar Pichai.

Source: mashable.com